Ski binding



2 4 q lilmll G W a m a Q 2 m INVENTOR neadore fl/l'ofi" ATTO Patented Mar. 16, 1943 2,314,270 SKI BINDING Theodore Elliott, Winchester, Mass.

Application January 25, 1939, Serial No. 252,769

8 Claims.

This invention relates to skis and ski bindings. One of the objects of my invention is to pro- I vide a ski binding which will be durable in conconstruction in which the flexible cable will not be subjected to sharp bending so that its durability and life may be increased.

A further object is to provide a tightening or tensiom'ng device so constructed that it willnot become clogged with snow when in use so that the fastening and unfastening qualities will not be impaired.

' Another object of my invention is to provide special means for connecting the flexible cable to the heel spring which will be cheap and efficient and will permit the use of straps thereabout if such are desired. v

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my binding;

Fig. 2 is a plan View;

Fig. 3 is a detail, part in section, of the connecting means between the cable and heel spring; Fig. 4 is a detail of the special sheath used in maintaining proper cable radius;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the tensioning or tightening device in open position.

Referring to Fig. 1, my binding is shown as generally consisting of a tightening member 2, a connecting cable 4, and heel spring 6. In dotted lines is shown a typical toe iron 8 which does not, however, constitute any part of this invention.

' As is well known, in the use of bindings of this type the ski boot is placed on the ski with the toe engaged by the toe iron, and the heel spring 6 is positioned in a groove about the heel. When the tightening device is operated, the cable is drawn forwardly, forcing the heel spring against the rear of the heel of the ski boot to force the latter forwardly into tight engagement with the sides of the toe iron 8.

As previously indicated, however, my invention is concerned with certain improvements relating to the binding which includes the tightening unit.

'Asshown in Fig. 5, my tightening'unit comprises a base plate I0 having holes at either end to receive screws l2 and I 4 whereby it may be firmly secured to the top of the ski. Upstanding at the further end of the base plate are a pair of wings l6 which act as supports for the pivotal mounting of nosepiece l8. It will be observed that nosepiece I8 is formed from a single piece of material having a front connecting surface 20 and vertically extending side portions 22 which straddle the Wings 16. Loose rivets 24 permit swinging movement between the base plate in and nosepiece 'l 8.

A lever 26 of suitable dimensions and generally of channel form is provided, which fits between the side portions 22 of the nosepiece and is connected thereto by looserivets 28 which extend through the rear of side portions 22 and the channel sides of lever 26.

One end of lever 26 is in turn connected with a channel member 30 by means of a loose rivet 32 which extends the entire width of lever 26.

Channel 30, as shown, has a plurality of notches 34 in its sides for the purpose of receiv- "ing the cable assembly. Notches 34 slope slightly forward so that the cable member may be better retained therein.

To the central portion of rivet 32 is connected 2. spring snap cover 36 which is arranged to swing downwardly on top of channel 311 to close the notches 34. The spring hook portion 38 of spring cover 36 engages in the indentations 40 on the rear end of the sides of channel 30.

It is believed apparent from the construction disclosed of the tightening unit, that, when lever 26, as shown in Fig. 5, is swung to the right,

channel 30 will be moved to the left, permitting the ultimate position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The leverageaiforded by lever 26 is adequate to overcome the resistance of heel spring 6 when in engagement with the heel of a ski boot held by the toe iron. The final position of the fulcrum provided by rivet 32 is higher than the position of rivets 28 so that the tightening unit is self-locking and will stay in closed position until lever 26 is forcibly raised.

The heel spring and cable construction is as follows. A threaded bushing 42 having coarse threads 44 on one end suitable for threading within the end of the heel spring is provided. For convenience in screwing the bushing into place a hexagonal nut portion 46 is formed adjacent the threads. Extending away from the threaded part is a tubular section 48 sufficlently long to receive astrap of ordinary width thereabout. The tubular section terminates in a flange suitable for holding a strap in position.

The bushing 42 has a hole 52 extending 1ongitudinally therethrough. This hole is of suflicient diameter to receive a flexible wire cable 54, and its spiral metal sheath 56, allowing a free, sliding fit of the sheath and cable through the bushing. The sheath 56 terminates at 58, but the cable extends beyond the threaded end of bushing 42, as at 62, where it is held from Withdrawal through the bushing by a terminal clamp member 64 in the form of a short metal tube which is squeezed or swaged firmly about the end of the cable. As clamp member 64 is larger in diameter than hole 52 of the bushing, it is obvious that the cable cannot be withdrawn therefrom.

The cable as shown extends continuously from the bushing on one end of the spring to the bushing on the other end of the spring; and the metal sheath likewise is continuous on the cable, except for a short section as at 65 at either end to allow for creeping of the sheath on the cable whenever bending of the cable and sheath takes place.

t will be noted that, since the sheath has a free, sliding fit in the bushing, it floats on the cable and has no strains imposed thereon other than negligible frictional loads.

Midway of the cable I provide a metal sleeve 66 whose internal diameter provides a close fit for the metal sheath 56 of the cable. In ordinary practice sleeve 66 is straight when the cable is first passed therethrough and is thereafter formed to the proper curvature as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The provision of sleeve 66 accomplishes certain results which are very desirable. It prevents the cable from being bent to a radius smaller than suitable for the cable used. Since wire cable when too sharply bent is subject to fracture of one or more of the strands, thereby being weakened, the sleeve 66 provides means for eliminating this undesirable feature, thereby insuring long life of the cable regardless of the number of times it may be used. The sleeve 66 is of metal sufficiently rigid to prevent additional bending thereof regardless of the force applied thereagainst by the elongation of spring 6. Sleeve 66 further provides protection for the sheath 56 which heretofore has rapidly become worn by repeated engagement with the edges of notches 34. The curvature of sleeve 66 is such that the radius through which the cable is bent will be insufficient to set up any tendency toward breaking of the individual strands of the cable, and it is further provided that the cable will run through the sleeve in a direction that will be approximately tangent to the curvature of the sleeve. In this manner all acute damaging bends of the cable are effectively eliminated.

The hooks 68 which are attached by screws to the sides of the skis do not constitute part of my invention as such, but are merely shown as illustrating a customary application. cases they are omitted altogether or certain In some portions of the toe iron may be used as a fuling 42 is also of stainless steel or of any other suitable metal.

The front connecting surface 26 of the tightening unit extends far enough downwardly toward the base plate I0 so as to minimize the possibility of snow getting thereunder, which improves the ease with which the device may be released after use. Lever. 26 and spring cover 36 may be operated independently or may be moved together. In the ordinary case, however, it would probably be preferred, when putting the binding on, to close the spring cover 36 over the sleeve 66 before moving lever 26 to tighten the binding.

The operation of my binding is as follows. The skier inserts his boot in the toe iron, positions the heel spring in the heel groove, and draws the cable as far forward as desired by hand so that the sleeve 66 may be dropped into one of the sets of notches in channel 30. This is done, of course, while the lever 26 is thrown forward in unfastened position. Thereafter lever 26 is swung rearwardly toward the toe iron, closing snap cover 36 in the same motion, with the result that the cable is drawn forward, tensioning the heel spring about the boot heel to urge the boot firmly into the toe iron. The heel may be raised as the skier walks forward, the cable flexing about suitable portions of the toe iron. When the cable is passed under hooks 68, a vertical component acts to hold the heel against the ski.

While I have shown a preferred form of my invention, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not intend to be limited thereby but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ski binding comprising a tightening device affixed to a ski, a heel spring, a continuous flexible member extending from one end of the heel spring to the other, a sleeve covering said flexible member intermediate the ends thereof, said sleeve aflixed to said flexible member and separable from said tightening device said tightening device having means for receiving and engaging said sleeve, and means for drawing said sleeve in a direction away from said heel spring.

2. A ski binding as set forth in claim 1 in which said flexible member comprises a cable and a sheath thereover, and said sleeve is relatively rigid and curved so that the flexible member at the point of engagement with the curved portion of said sleeve engages said sleeve at an angle approximately tangent thereto.

3. A ski binding as set forth in claim 1 in which said sleeve has a curvature greater than that which would be assumed by said flexible member under tension without said sleeve.

4. A ski binding as set forth in claim 1 in which said flexible member is connected to said heel spring by a bushing having one end threaded for engagement with said heel spring and the other end tubular in form with a flange at its extremity.

5. A ski binding as set forth in claim 1 in which the sleeve has a curvature exceeding that which would be assumed by said cable when under tension without said sleeve and in which said cable is connected to said heel spring by a bushing having one end threaded for engagement with said heel spring and the other end being tubular in form with a flange at its extremity.

6. For use with a ski binding, a tightening unit comprising a base plate having a pair of upstanding wings, a unitary nosepiece with a'front connecting portion extending across and in front of said wings and having side portions extending parallel to and to the rear of said Wings and pivotally connected thereto, a lever pivotally connected to the rear of said side portions, one end of said lever hingedly connected to a cable-engaging member, a cover hingedly associated with said member for maintaining a cable in position therein, said parts so proportioned that when said tightening device is in closed position the front connecting surface of said nosepiece and the upper surface of said lever will present a smooth, unbroken contour.

'7. In a ski binding, the unitary combination of a rigid sleeve and a flexible cable passed therethrough, said sleeve formed to a gradual radius throughout the major portion of its length to provide means for preventing acute bending of said flexible member, the terminal portions of said sleeve extending in substantially the same direction as the cable extending therefrom, said sleeve and cable being permanently associated and removable from said binding as a unit;

8. A tightener for use in a ski binding comprising a base plate having at its forward end a pair of upstanding wings, a nosepiece with two side portions integrally connected therewith, said nosepiece pivotally connected to said wings, a lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said side portions, cable-engaging means pivotaliy connected to one end of said lever, the relationship of all of the parts being such that when the free end of said lever is swung to the rear the cable-engaging means will be drawn forwardly and the transverse portion of said nosepiece and the upper surface of said lever will present a relatively smooth contour.

THEODORE ELLIOTT. 

